Two people were found dead in the Restaurant Sonne in Oberriet, St Gallen, at 8am. Neither of the deceased has been identified. Further victims could still be found in the building, added St Gallen cantonal police in a statement.

The charred remains are still being searched by 60 fire department personnel deployed to the scene. An investigation is also under way into persons who might possibly have been in the house when the fire broke out.

At this stage, nobody is missing, said police. The public prosecutor in St Gallen has ordered police to complete forensics to determine the cause of the fire. At least two people with serious burns were also hospitalised.

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